WSIB and OHS for Employers in Ontario – April 2010

OHS Updates

1. Do Something for Your Team this Wednesday: National Day of Mourning / Workers’ Memorial Day April 28, 2010…

is next Wednesday. Did you know that this day was started in Canada by CUPE in 1984. In 1985 the Canadian Labour Congress declared an annual day of remembrance on April 28 which was the day the Workmen’s Compensation Board was created in 1914. This day is now celebrated throughout the world. It is a day to honour the men and woman who have suffered a job-related injury, illness or death. You can invite a group of your employees to attend a local event in your community or have an informal pizza party at work and have a discussion about Health and Safety.

2. Earth Day April 22, 2010 (Earth Week)

To celebrate Earth Day / Earth Week how about supporting the Sierra Club of Canada in a campaign against Asbestos or join Planet Green which is an excellent on-line resource for home and work. Make sure that your used computers and electronic devices are being re-cycled safely. Taking care of Planet Earth is Health and Safety on a Global scale.

3. NAOSH Week:

North American Occupational Safety and Health Week takes place May 2-8. This is a good opportunity for employers to post information and get involved helping to keep the Internal Responsibility System visible in the workplace. Become a NAOSH week supporter or champion at Link: http://www.naosh.ca/english/champions.html

4. Safer Workplaces: Get Inspired by the ONA and celebrate their Safety Successes!

Five years of hard work, teamwork, collaboration and unrelenting persistence have paid off. The ONA was instrumental in getting safety engineered needles mandated and N-95 Respirators in all hospitals in Ontario. The “precautionary” principle should be used by all of us.

5. Partners In Prevention: Occupational Health and Safety Conference and Trade Show

6. Mental Health in the Workplace:

A valued recommendation from Lisa at CMHA in Windsor. She recommends a new resource called “A Complaint Free World” by Will Bowen. Mr. Bowen looks at the damaging effects of “complaining” as the opposite of healthy communication and a way to avoid responsibility. Check this out at www.AComplaintFreeWorld.org

Attend a Complimentary Breakfast Seminar THIS Wednesday on Bill 168 in London:

2. Save the Date: The “Annual Todd Lecture”: Thursday May 20, 2010 (6-9pm), Chaucers in London (Presented by the South Western Ontario Labour Lawyers Association). Justice Todd Archibald will be the keynote speaker and the Honourable Senior Regional Justice Edward Ducharme will introduce Justice Archibald. The excellent text “Regulatory and Corporate Liability: From Due Diligence to Risk Management” will be on sale and is highly recommended for owners, the C-suite and OHS/WSIB management teams in virtually every organization.